A SUSPECTED team of sneak thieves are making the most of unlocked back doors to pilfer their way through a Chester-le-Street housing estate.

Police in the town are warning people in the Avenues area to be on their guard after a spate of raids over the past week.

The burglars have been targeting houses, getting in and taking items mainly through unlocked kitchen doors.

On several occasions, the residents have been at home, but in another part of the house, while the thieves raided their property.

Two recent examples came last weekend. The first incident, on Friday, happened at about 8.10pm when a woman disturbed a youth she found going through her kitchen at her home in.

The dark-haired youth, who was wearing a sweater and a cream-coloured jacket, made off with the woman's Dyson vacuum cleaner, worth about £200.

The following night, at 7.45pm, a house in Second Avenue was targeted when someone sneaked in and stole the keys to the resident's N-registration Ford Escort parked outside.

After the car was stolen it was found abandoned on Sunday in Bullion Lane, Chester-le-Street.

Other burglaries in the past week have seen handbags, cash and benefit books stolen and it's thought the recent crimes are almost certainly being carried out by a team who are already well-known to local police for similar offences in the past.

Chester-le-Street Inspector Dave Marshall urged residents to take precautions against the thieves.

He said: "It only takes seconds for a thief to sneak into your home and make off with whatever they can lay their hands on.

"We should take care to ensure we are not leaving them easy opportunities to get in without being noticed.

"For example, if you are going to be working upstairs for any length of time, it makes sense to lock the downstairs doors to prevent anyone getting in."

He said police are keen to hear from anyone with information on the recent break-ins.

"We believe those responsible are youths living locally, and they have been actively targeted by the police.

"Some have previously been arrested for similar crimes, but despite that, the offences are continuing."

Anyone with information should contact Chester-le-Street CID on 0191 - 3884311 or their crime prevention officer PC John Hedley on 0191 - 3752304